10 Black and White Murals That Prove Grey Matters!
Black and white murals are a captivating form of art that can transform public spaces, enlivening streets and buildings with vibrant images and thought-provoking concepts. While many murals are known for their bold colours, black and white murals possess a distinctive charm, conveying powerful emotions and narratives through the interplay of light and shadow
1. “The Cliffs of Trocadéro” by JR – Paris, France
French artist and photographer JR is admired for his large-scale black and white murals that often feature photographic imagery. JR calls the street “the largest art gallery in the world,” and his work often flips stereotypes and challenges the stories told by advertising and media. Starting out in Paris, his work now spans the globe and often sparks deep conversations about identity, freedom, and what it means to be human.
In Paris, he created “The Cliffs of Trocadéro,” a black and white mural on the famous Trocadéro wall, depicting a large cavernous cliff either side of the Eiffel Tower.
2. “Crying Woman” by Banksy – Gaza, Palestine
Banksy, the renowned British street artist, is famous for his thought-provoking and satirical murals. One of his works, “Bomb Damage,” is a medium-sized spray painting on a solitary door in Gaza, featuring a woman hunched over in an apparent moment of sadness. In 2015, Banksy made a return to Gaza and released a 2-minute video showing his entrance into the area via an underground tunnel, equipped with spray paint cans. The video starts with a bold introduction: “Welcome to Gaza.”
The video highlights the destruction caused by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas militants, and Banksy uses it as an opportunity to showcase his latest murals in the region.
3. “Paint the Polytechnic” by Juddy Roller – Melbourne, Australia
Sofles, Guido Van Helten, and Reka joined forces to revamp Melbourne Polytechnic Prahran Campus (formerly Prahran Tech) by creating stunning murals on some of the city’s tallest walls, reaching seven stories high.
This impressive project was organized and executed by Juddy Roller, an award-winning street art network in collaboration with Melbourne Polytechnic.
Check out there progress video below!
4. “Astronaut Cosmonaut” by Victor Ash – Berlin, Germany
Located in Berlin, this mural stands as a striking symbol of unity and exploration in the midst of a historically divided city. Painted on the side of a building, this large-scale mural of an astronaut floating in space seems to hover over the city. What’s especially clever about it is how the astronaut appears differently depending on the viewer’s angle—sometimes it looks like the astronaut is just floating in mid-air! This piece combines space exploration themes with the urban landscape, making it a captivating and memorable part of Berlin’s street art scene.
Read more about other murals in Berlin!
5. “Forum for Science, Doubt & Art” by ROA – Ghent, Belgium
Renowned street artist ROA completed his latest masterpiece on the exterior of the GUM (Ghent University Museum). The new science museum now showcases an extraordinary mural of animal skeletons, featuring an elephant, a rhinoceros, a grizzly bear, and an okapi. ROA’s passion for animal anatomy shines through in this piece, a common thread in his body of work. For this project, he drew inspiration from the museum’s remarkable collections and narratives.
This sprawling 290 m2 mural on the museum’s wall is poised to become a must-see attraction for street art enthusiasts from all corners of the globe. It also serves as a crown jewel for the newly opened GUM, showcasing ROA’s work and perfectly embodying its title, “Forum for Science, Doubt & Art.”
Check out Ghent University Museums video of the project!
6. “Sofles – Graffiti Mapped” by Juddy Roller – Melbourne, Australia
In 2013, White Night Melbourne’s took its first step into street art, with Juddy Roller delivering a dynamic installation for the event. This project showcased the fusion of street art, technology, and the online realm.
Under the creative direction of Shaun Hossack, Juddy Roller assembled a talented team to bring “Sofles – Graffiti Mapped” to life. This interactive mural combined animation, traditional street art, and graffiti, all set to a synchronised audio track.
Sofles, a renowned Australian-born street artist, is known for pushing the boundaries of the medium. Animator Grant Osborne handled the motion design, while award-winning New Zealander Opiuo composed the musical score. The final product was an extraordinary installation that stood out as a highlight of the entire festival.
7. “The Wrinkles of the City” by JR – Shanghai, China
In 2010, JR brought “The Wrinkles of the City” to Shanghai. This project offered a special chance to explore the lives of the elderly through their stories, portraits, and JR’s unique pasting technique. Recognising that memories can fade as older generations pass away, JR emphasises the importance of preserving the wisdom and experiences of the elderly for younger generations.
JR approaches this project with a poetic, social, and deeply human touch, without making judgments. As the artist himself says, “Changing the way people see the world is already a way to bring about change…”
8. “You Are Beautiful” by Matthew Hoffman – Chicago, USA
The mural’s impact extends beyond its artistic beauty; it fosters a sense of connection and community. It has become a beloved landmark where locals and visitors alike gather, finding solace and inspiration in its empowering message. It serves as a beacon of hope, reminding us that we are all deserving of love, acceptance, and self-worth.
Matthew Hoffman’s “You Are Beautiful” mural stands as a testament to the power of art to inspire, uplift, and unite. It invites viewers to embrace their uniqueness and to celebrate the beauty that lies within themselves and others. In a single phrase, it reminds us that we are all worthy of love and acceptance, and that beauty is found in the diversity of humanity.
9. “Lilith and Olaf” by Ella & Pitr – Klepp, Norway
In anticipation of the 15th annual NuArt street art festival in 2015, French artists Ella & Pitr designed a rooftop mural in the municipality of Klepp in Rogaland county. The 21,000 square meter mural, titled ‘Lilith and Olaf’ shows a curled up girl releasing a small king from her fingertips. Black and white murals often pay tribute to the history and culture of their paint location. Ella and Pitr’s design is a cheeky depiction of King Olaf I of Norway, whose birthplace is just meters from the mural.
A team of volunteers assisted Ella and Pitr as they painted their design for the planes to admire from above.
Read more about some of the biggest murals in the world!
10. Rebel Sport Chadstone by Kevin – Melbourne, Australia
Black and white murals can be enhanced by an accent colour. Whether it is for a brand or just a personal favourite, a pop of colour can do wonders! For street artist Kevin, who is a huge basketball fan, the chance to feature in Rebel’s Chadstone store was too good to refuse. “It’s always an absolute honour to work with brands like that because I grew up shopping at those places. It used to be where I enjoyed going to the most as a kid, so to be able to put my art in those places is amazing.”
It’s one of more than 10 pieces of original artwork that Rebel has commissioned through Book An Artist so far. The platform links businesses with some of Australia’s best mural artists, portrait artists, street artists, canvas painters and graffiti artists.
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